Can a foreigner receive family benefits in France?

Verified 17 September 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Are you a foreigner and would you like to know the conditions for receiving family benefits (family allowances, early childhood care, etc.)? For this, you must reside with your family in France and respect special conditions related to your stay. We explain the regulations you need to know.

FYI  

Most of the time, family benefits are subject to income conditions.

Thus, above a certain income threshold, either the family is no longer entitled to it or the amount of benefits paid is lower.

The situation varies depending on whether you are a citizen of an EU countryEuropean Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, refugee, stateless person, Algerian national or in another situation:

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You are a national of an EEA country or Switzerland

You must complete the 4 conditions to receive family benefits in France:

  • Be able to justify your right to stay, in particular as worker, inactive or student
  • Reside in France
  • Have at least 1 dependent child residing in France
  • Except if you have a document or residence permit allowing you to exercise a professional activity, provide proof of the regularity of the entry of your children in France. Warning, if you live in Mayotte, this proof is required in all cases.

You are Algerian

You must complete the 4 conditions to receive family benefits in France:

  • Be in stay regular
  • Reside in France
  • Have at least one dependent child residing in France
  • Except if you have a document or residence permit allowing you to exercise a professional activity, provide proof of the regularity of the entry of your children in France. Warning, if you live in Mayotte, this proof is required in all cases.

For justify the regularity of your stay and benefit from family benefits, you can present for example:

You are a refugee or stateless person

You must complete the 4 conditions to receive family benefits in France:

  • Be in stay regular
  • Reside in France
  • Have at least one dependent child residing in France
  • Except if you have a document or residence permit allowing you to exercise a professional activity, provide proof of the regularity of the entry of your children in France. Warning, if you live in Mayotte, this proof is required in all cases.

For justify the regularity of your stay, you must submit one of the documents following:

  • Receipt for an application for a residence permit bearing the words ‘  recognized as a refugee
  • Receipt for an application for a residence permit bearing the words ‘foreigners admitted to stay on grounds of asylum’
  • Receipt for an application for a residence permit bearing the words ‘ has been granted subsidiary protection’ with the decision granting that protection.

You're in a different situation

You must complete the 4 conditions to receive family benefits in France:

  • Be in regular stay
  • Reside in France
  • Have at least 1 dependent child residing in France
  • Except if you have a document or residence permit allowing you to exercise a professional activity, provide proof of the regularity of the entry of your children in France. Warning, if you live in Mayotte, this proof is required in all cases.

For justify the regularity of your stay, you must submit one of the following documents:

  • Long-stay visa as a residence permit (VLS-TS) or renewal application receipt
  • Resident Card or of temporary stay or renewal application receipt
  • Residence permit issued on the application of the Convention signed between the Republic of France, the Kingdom of Spain and the Principality of Andorra or receipt for application for renewal
  • Residence card " skills and talents ” or renewal application receipt
  • Provisional authorization to stay longer than 3 months
  • Special booklet, booklet or traffic log
  • Monegasque passport bearing a mention of the Consul General of France in Monaco as a residence permit.

Warning  

If you are detached, there are specific rules. It is advisable to ask the Center for European and International Social Security Liaison (Cleiss).

The Cleiss allows you to know the family benefits in the event of posting.

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